Whether this is your first time to travel or you've traveled for more times than you can count, relax. Business trips can be fun. Of course, you have meetings to attend, business to take care of and employees to follow up with. Work does not mean you cannot see new places and meet new people. If you're visiting a new city, you should take time to walk around and have fun. Here are the things you need to do to make your trip relaxing.

#1 Plan Your Trip

The words sound like a no brainer but seriously plan your trip. If you want to have fun, check events, restaurants, and places you are interested to see online and how close they are to where you intend to stay. You don't want to spend your trip worrying about missing a meeting and definitely not exploring the city's transportation system. Take some time before you actually travel and plan exactly where you want go. For directions, you can download Tripomatic: Trip Planner. This application comes with maps needed, so download it to your phone and you're good to good to go. Tripomatic works offline.

#2 Follow Up With Your Employees

You can't fully relax when you think of the disasters you might encounter when you go back to your company. All the issues you should've taken care of when you were traveling suddenly pops up. A good work-fun balance is definitely needed but once you start running your own business, you know that you have to work 24/7 to keep everything running smoothly and there are tools to help you. Sign up for an online time tracking system and you can easily follow up with your employees and check who showed up for work and who did not. And also they can write shift reports daily so you can exactly see what they are working on. ClockIn Portal is a good online time tracking tool that your company can use.

#3 Read Your Postal Mail Online

One of the things that makes a lot of company owners or managers worried when they travel is postal mail. A simple lifehack is to get yourself a virtual mailbox. That way you can read your postal mail online. Virtual mail companies receive your mail and you can view what you received online. You can also decide what you need to do with your mail through an online applications. So if your business trip lasts for only a few days, you can ask mail facility to scan contents of your mail and read it like you would read an email. All through an easy-to-use online application. PostScan Mail offers this service for a very reasonable price. I forgot to mention they also do electronic check deposit.

#4 Make Sure You Are Connected to Internet

When it comes to internet connection, most hotels, if not all hotels, provide WiFi connection. It depends on when and how frequently you need internet access. In worst case scenarios, you can use data roaming. Make sure your hotel has an internet connection and also ask about data roaming expenses. Plus, it mainly depends on where you are going. Some countries have free WiFi almost anywhere. Just check before you go.

#5 Minimize Time You Spend Online

It sounds like a strange advice after listing all the applications you should use and online services you should download. If you want to relax and focus on what you traveled to get done at first place, you should not be distracted by Facebook or Twitter. You can focus on how your employees are doing and which mail items you received but that should not take more than an hour or two of your day. Decide on a time to take care of business at home and forget about it the rest of day. Being a businessman is an all-day-long career but schedule a time to take care of business, and remember to have fun. Look around and enjoy the city you are at.

Cooking is one of the most common tasks individuals do every single day. However, some individuals usually cook the same food items. Because of this, many household members, most especially kids lose their appetite. In order to deal with this issue, it is best for individuals to look for new recipes.

Of course, cooking books are the best option. Unfortunately, there are cases when traditional food items cannot match your family's taste. So, it is best to search the internet and look for gourmet food blogs.

When talking about gourmet, most individuals think of those classy and extravagant food items served in 5-star restaurants. But, there are also some gourmet foods that can be served at home. Apart from that, gourmet food blogs can provide other features. Below are some of the following.

To know tips in preparing, cooking and presenting dishes

One of the best features of reading food blogs is you can obtain numerous tips in preparing, cooking, and presenting dishes. Food preparation is important since you need to make sure that the ingredients are clean and fresh. With the help of blogs, you can attain tips in choosing ingredients.

Cooking tips and techniques are also shared on blogs which can help individuals make cooking fun, easy, and safe. To top it all off, gourmet food blogs also provide tips on how to present dishes properly with appeal. This will allow you to attract your kids in eating their meals despite of using ingredients they do not want such as vegetables.

To find new and unique recipes

Another benefit of reading food blogs is you can find new and unique recipes. Of course, most individuals wish to try out new dishes. They also want to use other ingredients that are not usually included in the food items that they cook. With the help of blogs, it is easier to create a wonderful meal that can match your taste.

To gain expert opinion from professionals

There are instances when individuals experience some difficulties in cooking certain gourmet food. Luckily, individuals can obtain expert opinion from professionals. Because of this, they can improve their knowledge in cooking, which can also help improve their lifestyle.

To increase their knowledge about food

Finally, gourmet food blogs can help individuals increase their knowledge about food. This is needed since there are numerous ways in cooking and preparing food items. Apart from that, these techniques can also be used during certain events at home, which can surely satisfy your guests' tastes.

With all these features, cooking can be so much fun to help you create delicious dishes for your loved ones. Click here for more.

1762 is a company that offers reliable catering services. The company also has its own food blog to help individuals learn more about cooking, which can help them improve their lifestyle. To know more, go to this site.

Plan your meal: It is helpful to jot down notes in a notepad especially if you are planning a big dinner party. Plan your party in advance as much as possible in case any unexpected issues pop up. That way you'll have time to take care of them. If you have a long to do list, creating a plan will help you get things done in a timely manner. You don't want to be so stressed that you can't enjoy your party.

Stick with familiarity: You're excited about your dinner party and want everyone to be impressed with your culinary skills so to avoid a potentially disastrous night and skip that exotic dish you've been dying to try. Most people are creatures of habit and may take some time to warm up to unfamiliar dishes.

Create a Shopping List: List everything you want to get and everything need. Look and see what you already have and how much. Make sure you get more than enough of what you need to prepare your meal so you will not run out in the middle of preparation. Everyone may not drink wine so offer a variety of beverages that are also non-alcoholic. Have at least two types of meats, a variety sides and a light dessert.

Consider Special Diets: Check with your guests to see if any of them have any special dietary needs.

Decide on Specialty Items: If you can afford to be extravagant then splurge a little. If not, it's okay because it's all about family, friends, good food and good times. More than likely everyone will appreciate the hard work and effort you put into making the occasion special.

Choose a Theme: Unless you are having international guest from around the world for dinner choose one cuisine theme. Avoid trying to be creative by having a variety of dishes from different cultures or worse a fusion of two dishes that is experimental.

Take Inventory: Do you have enough pots and pans that are the right sizes and right ones? Kitchen space? Tables and chairs? How about serving dishes, dinnerware, glasses and cutlery? To- go containers?

If not, purchase what you need or borrow from family and friends who wont mind lending to you.

Plan Prep Time: So you can spend as much time with your guest instead of in the kitchen prepare some dishes in advance. This really works great if you have a complex dish you want to serve. The only thing that'll be left to do is warm up the food and add any finishing touches.

Arrange setting: Keep it casual so everyone will relax and have a good time. If you have a large group of people (11 or more) it will probably be better to serve your guest a sit down meal than a buffet.

Consider Extras: Decorations, music and food garnishes are optional but are a nice touch but not required. Keep it simple if you decide to add them. The presentation and quality of food and company is what everyone will remember and be talking about.

Planning a menu is a snap and will help you avoid a disastrous evening. Follow these easy tips and everyone at your dinner party will have a great time and fond memories to share.

The truth is that most people like to travel. This is because that the unknown generally thrills you. With the broad access to information that we currently have, it's easy to browse pictures of beautiful countries, which sparks the desire to travel even more. However, unfortunately this is a rather expensive pleasure. Therefore, not everyone can afford it. Nevertheless, there are some tips that would help you travel a lot cheaper and in some cases for free.

1. Swap homes

As a matter of fact, home swapping is rapidly becoming a trend and you can even find this method on some of the most popular travel websites. The fact is that the majority of travel expenses go towards accommodations. Therefore, when you swap your home with other fellow travelers you eliminate this particular line of expenses and your trip becomes much cheaper. It also has perks like a fully equipped kitchen, proper bathrooms, and things that you won't find in a cheap hotel.

2. Carpool

This is a term that relates to numerous people traveling within the same vehicle. For instance, you can look for someone who travels in the same direction and you can split the expenses in half. As you can imagine, the more people you get the less you are going to pay for the travel.

3. Hitchhike

This is an old-fashioned method of traveling for free. Basically, what you want to do is try and stop people on the road and get them to drive you towards the direction they are heading. It's a great way to meet new local people and it's completely free, even though some hitchhikers offer some money in exchange for the favor.

4. Become a crew member of a cruise ship

This is a way not only to travel for free but to earn a few bucks as well. Enjoy visiting a wide variety of countries on a regular basis and earn money while doing it. Of course, there are some downsides - you will obviously have to work so there might not be enough time for sightseeing but generally crew members get some days off when the ship reaches its destination. This should be the best time for you to look around.

5. Use budget airlines

A few years ago, several airlines were created that offer incredibly low rates for their tickets. This is mainly due to the fact that you will be flying with almost no additional comfort but, after all, your main purpose is to see the world, not to fly in first class airplanes.

All in all, there are a wide variety of things that you could do if you want to travel the world cheap. Not every solution is incredibly expensive and if you use a combination of different tricks you can end up with a really affordable trip. Do take these into consideration especially if you want to save up some money for sightseeing.

The island of Lamu is one of the most popular destinations of Kenya and is known for its calm and peaceful environment. The island has been a trading port for centuries and is now a certified tourist attraction. Located just northeast of Mombasa, Lamu's main town, which shares the island's name, is the oldest living town in East Africa and thus, is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Because of Lamu's narrow streets and compact layout, riding a bicycle or donkey is the most practical and fun way of exploring the town. Walking around Lamu's old settlement, whose history goes all the way back to the 12th century, is like walking into the past. You will see narrow streets with labyrinth-like layout, where donkeys still dominate the scene, and you will appreciate structural masterpieces that are inspired by Arab, Indian and European architecture. And yet, Lamu Old Town exudes that distinct Swahili design with its charming courtyards, rooftop patios, and coral stone buildings.

The Lamu Museum is one of the main attractions in town. Visiting the museum offers a great insight to the Swahili culture and to the region's marine history. Head out to the Lamu Fort for another date with history. This two-story World Heritage Site was built in the early 10th century and features exquisite Swahili architecture. These days, the fort assumes the role of a public library and environmental museum.

After immersing yourself with the past, it is worthwhile to spend time with adorable and hardworking creatures in the Donkey Sanctuary. This facility was built with the intention to take care and maintain the donkey population in Lamu as they are the only means of transport on an island that has barely any motorized transport.

Lamu is a Muslim populated town, and visiting here promises to be a rich cultural experience, especially when most inhabitants still wear traditional attire. A strong representative of the religious culture reigning in Lamu is the Riyadha Mosque, which is the centerpiece of the annual Maulidi Festival, held to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

Another great festival you may want to experience in town is the Lamu Cultural Festival. It is a four day celebration held every November and highlights grand artistic exhibits and cultural events. People in Lamu are known for their warmth and friendliness and many locals can converse in English. So don't be afraid to engage them in conversations especially when you are in a traditional café trying out an authentic Arabian coffee.

The best way to reach Lamu Town is by air. There are regular direct flights coming from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, and the Moi International Airport in Mombasa. Once you land at the airport on Lamu Island, you will need to take a short boat or ferry ride to the opposite side where the town is situated. An alternative albeit less convenient option is to take a bus or hire a car to drive to Lamu from Mombasa.

Finding accommodation is not an issue in this African town as there is a range of lodging options. Beach hotels are quite popular but guesthouses are available for the budget conscious. Lamu also has a growing luxury accommodation industry.

There is so much information available on the internet right now regarding travel. There are online travel sites for cruises, hotels, air, trains and any other type of travel. But what is the correct product for you? Is the location of the hotel where you want to be? Is the type of room or cabin the right fit for you? Is that cruise line the one you should be booking? Not all products are created equal nor are the products right for everyone. How do you tell? Contact a travel professional.

Do travel agents exist?

There have been multiple articles, and even the President of the United States, has said travel agents don't exist or are going away. In a way they are right. Travel agents in the past were just someone who booked a trip for someone who called or came in to the storefront office of a travel agency. Storefront travel agencies are few and far between now a days as most of the "travel agents" have gone home to work. Even the term "travel agent" is going away because what they do now is different than what they did before.

Travel Professionals/Travel Counselors

Travel Agents are now more a counselor and an adviser so they are now called Travel Professionals or Travel Counselor. Even the travel industry is trying to get away from using the term "travel agent". They no longer just book a trip for someone, they know more than what is available to the traveling client. The travel professionals now are constantly learning, constantly traveling, receiving input from other travel professionals about where they have traveled and are a resource for what is required to travel now a days.

When you use an online travel agency like Expedia, Travelocity, etc. you aren't able to have someone protect your back. They book the travel for you and then you are pretty much on your own. Say your flight gets cancelled, who is going to book a replacement flight? You are, not them. If you use a travel professional that travel professional will do it. If something goes wrong on your trip, if the room you booked is not like what you thought it would be, who is going to make it right? A travel professional will also check constantly for price drops before final payment and whether a new promotion offered would be more beneficial than what was booked with a deposit. All these things can be addressed before final payment.

A travel professional works with you from the time you first talk to them until you are home safe and sound and any and all problems have been solved or addressed.

It Costs More to Use a Travel Professional

This is not always true. True, some travel professionals charge fees but not all of them do. This is because some vendors, like airlines and some hotels, don't pay commission or some of the vendors have decreased the amount of commissions paid to the travel professional. In order to make ends meet, some travel professionals charge fees. I charge $50 per person for airline reservations domestically and $100 for airline reservations internationally. I will also charge a fee sometimes for hotels for the same reason or if I am putting the various sections of the trip together myself. If I book a cruise or a tour, I don't charge a fee as the vendor pays me a commission. Remember, whether you use a travel professional or not the commission is still being paid as it is automatically included in the price from the vendor. So, why not use a travel professional and avoid the hassle and save your time?

The rules for traveling are constantly changing and it is the travel professional who is able to keep their clients on track with them.

Examples: Passports

For instance, did you know that come January, 2016 you may need a passport to travel by air domestically? This is due to a law called the REAL ID Act. This requires all travelers to have a REAL ID compliant identification that includes all of these fields: full legal name, signature, date of birth, gender, unique identifying number, a principal residence address and a front-facing photograph of the applicant. Unfortunately there are still a handful of states that are non-compliant. Do you know which states are compliant and which aren't? Your travel professional does. By the way, outright non-compliant states/territories are American Samoa, Louisiana and New Hampshire. The states of Minnesota and New York offer an optional Enhanced ID at a cost, so because it is optional, a large percentage of residents don't have one. Some states have applied for additional extensions, but it is unclear if those will be granted. Currently, only four states (Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York) and American Samoa are technically non-compliant.

Also, we still don't know if January 1, 2016 will be the date of the requirement or will it be later? Because of this law, the passport processing time for all will be affected. All the passports issued in 2006 to meet the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that went into effect in 2007 are now expiring, causing a slew of renewals. So, because of those renewals coupled with the possible REAL ID enforcement, passport waits are expected to further increase. As of October 11, the current wait has already increased a week to four to six weeks for standard passports and three weeks for expedited. Expedited in person could be up to eight days based on travel need.

Ultimately the REAL ID Act will require all state-issued drivers' licenses to include "machine-readable technology" or chips to help keep us safe and secure while traveling. For more information on the REAL ID Act go to http://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs.

Also, passports are recommended for cruises just like they are required to fly outside of the United States. The reason being is if you do need to fly back to the United States from a foreign port you have a passport to do so. Just because you are on a cruise leaving a United States port, technically you are traveling internationally just as soon as you step on the ship as most ships are registered outside of the United States!

Example: Visas

A travel professional would be able to help you determine if visas are required to travel to where you want to go. If they don't know for sure, they know where to send you for that information and get confirmation that you do or don't need one for the type of travel you are taking. For instance, for most cruises if you leave an U.S. port and return to the same U.S. port you probably don't need a visa to visit the ports. This is called a "closed loop" trip. But, again, most of the cruises. Always double check to see if one is needed.

Example: Travel Insurance

Again, not all travel insurance is created equal. Should you purchase travel insurance? Absolutely!!! I recommend to my clients not to purchase travel insurance, for the most part, from the supplier of the cruise or product. The reason being the coverage is not as comprehensive as third party policies. Travel insurance is not only purchased for travel delays, luggage lost/damage or cancellation protection. Some health insurance companies do not cover you when traveling outside of the United States. Medicare does not. Travel insurance will act as your primary health insurance during your travel, from the time you leave to the time you return to your home. Also, it provides emergency evacuation for health reasons and protects you for other items. Always read the policy and information provided by the issuer of the travel insurance to see what is covered. Your travel professional will know which is a good travel insurance issuer.

San Luis Obispo, a popular city of U.S state of California is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. This is one of the oldest communities of California that was established in the year 1772. Also known as SLO, this beautiful CA city has Mediterranean climate.SLO offers number of incredible attractions to visit and activities to enjoy. The activities like hiking, kayaking, surfing, windsurfing, diving, sailing and kite boarding are the primary draws of the city, which attract thousands of visitors and residents year round. The list of some major attractions of this area includes - Santa Manuela School House, the Swanton Pacific Ranch, Pismo Beac Botanical Garden, Morro Bay Eco-tours, Art Galleries, Children's Museum and Paso Robles wine countryside and Morro Bay State Park etc. This California city has grown in terms both business and tourism. Hence, thousands of people from across globe visit SLO year round.Does not matter, whether coming for pleasure or for business, San Luis Obispo offers plethora of luxury to cheap lodging options of all types to its visitors.Luxury Hotels If you wish to spend lavishly to make SLO tour indeed a memorable experience then must go for luxury accommodation.The list of luxury and super luxury hotels of the city include - Apple Farm Inn, Ascot Suites, The Cliffs Resort, Sycamore Mineral Springs, and Embassy Suites. All these are famous for offering excellent luxury accommodation. But out of these the most famous one is Apple Farm Inn.• Apple Farm Inn Apple Farm Inn is a super luxury lodging option where you will find traditional American hospitality with true atmosphere of tranquility. This hotel provides best lodging of its kind in whole city.It is located at 260 Morro Bay Blvd within walking distance to many area attractions.Cheap Hotels Cheap lodging can help you to reduce your tour expenditures, so if you are with tight budget, lodge into one of the cheap hotels of the city. There are many budget lodging options in this city, some which include - Best Western Royal Oak, Holiday Inn Express, La Cuesta Inn, Sands Inn & Suites, Los Padres Motel, Vagabond Inn and Travelodge etc.Travelodge Travelodge is one of the finest budget lodging options located in Central California Wine Country which houses over 50 vineyards. Those can't spend much on lodging and still wish for luxury accommodation can choose to stay here. This full service lodge provides great services, amenities and comfort of luxury hotels at the most affordable rates.Whether you want stay in downtown or near airport, this city houses lodging options in its each corner, so that visitors need not trouble much for accommodation.Downtown Hotels Downtown of this city is surrounded carefully with restored Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, housing many eclectic shops, nationwide chain stores and boutiques etc. Besides; this also houses many major tourist attractions.If you are one of those, who want to stay in downtown area, then don't bother.There many hotels of different categories including pet friendly, spa, casino and boutique hotels in the city center to choose from.